Useful Links

Sometimes it is difficult to know where to look for help, especially when you are unsure about approaching organisations for the first time. This section is aimed at helping to start you off - by identifying the types of helping charities and societies available and their contact details.

Some are charities and other organisations we have supported which assist those who are working, or have worked, in the civil service and wider public sector. Others are organisations which offer valuable advice on specific issues such as welfare benefits or provide dedicated services for their membership. Contact them direct for further information and assistance.

Organisations supporting those who have worked in specific sectors or employment and help with advice and financial assistance:

The Ambulance Staff Charity

TASC is the leading UK charity providing support to all present and past ambulance staff and their families in time of need, both in the NHS and independent sector. Our services are independent and confidential and include: psychological rehabilitation and counselling, including stress and PTSD support; physical rehabilitation; financial grants; debt advice; welfare and other support; and bereavement support.

We also host the National Ambulance Memorial Service every two years. To find out more, visit us at: www.theasc.org.uk or contact us at: enquiries@theasc.org.uk or call 024 7798 7922. You can also follow us on Facebook (@TASC The Ambulance Staff Charity) and Twitter (@TASCharity).

The BT Benevolent Fund

The BT Benevolent Fund serves current and former BT employees, pensioners and their dependents, the emphasis of its work being on the relief of financial hardship. Each year the Fund deals with more than 700 applications for help and also assists some 220 elderly people on very low incomes with weekly grants towards daily living costs. In all the Fund spends over £0.75m annually on charitable aid.

The Care Workers Charity

There are nearly 2 million care workers in the UK, contributing to one of Britain's largest workforces, and caring for some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

As a country, we depend on our care workers to be there for us on our rainy day. The Care Workers Charity is there for them on theirs. To find out more please visit http://www.thecareworkerscharity.org.uk

Organisations email address: info@thecareworkerscharity.org.uk

Cavell Nurses' Trust

Cavell Nurses' Trust transforms nurses' lives. The nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants we help say they're often happier, healthier and able to stay in or return to work. We're #HereForNurses.

We're the charity that supports UK nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants, both working and retired, when they're suffering personal or financial hardship often due to illness, disability, older age and domestic abuse.

We offer a tailored package of support to help everyone who gets in touch. Our experienced and caring Welfare Services Team gives emotional support for those in crisis, advice on maximising benefits, signposting to specialist counselling services, one-off grants to quickly relieve financial hardship and rapid emergency funding for those at great risk.

Often it can be difficult to ask for help, we hear this a lot from the people we help. If you, or any nursing professional you know needs help, make sure they get in touch with Cavell Nurses' Trust on 01527 595 999 or admin@cavellnursestrust.org

For more information visit www.cavellnursestrust.org

The Charity for Civil Servants

The Charity for Civil Servants (formerly The Civil Service Benevolent Fund) supports all civil servants, past and present, throughout their lives, with whatever problems they may have. Visit their website - www.foryoubyyou.org.uk - to find out more about the ways in which it can make difficult times a little easier, as well as how you can support the Charity in its work – either by donating, volunteering or fundraising.

Call freephone 0800 056 2424 for help & advice.

The Edridge Fund – National Association of Probation Officers

The Edridge Fund of Napo is an independent Charity, set up to help staff working in Probation, and the Family Courts CAFCASS service. We provide financial assistance, and have a network of local representatives who can assist applicants. Application forms can be downloaded from our website www.edridgefund.org.

Email address for enquiries : office@edridgefund.org
Voicemail 020 3397 7025 – standard call charges apply

Education Support Partnership

Education Support Partnership (Ed Support) is the UK's only charity providing mental health and wellbeing support services to everyone working in education.

Established 140 years ago as a benevolent fund for teachers, we understand the unique issues facing those working in education. Today we exist to ensure that everyone in the sector is respected, supported and resilient - at any stage in their career (whether training, serving or retired).

We offer:

Wellbeing support services (including counselling and financial support) for individuals
Solutions to support healthy working cultures for organisations (schools, universities, colleges)
We also campaign on wellbeing issues across the sector

To find out more and to seek support, please visit www.edsupport.org.uk or call our free helpline on 08000 562 561.

Northern Ireland Prison Service Central Benevolent Fund

The Northern Ireland Prison Service Central Benevolent Fund is a charity who looks after the welfare of Serving Officers, Retired Officers, Widows and their families. We provide a range of services to look after their varying needs, we also provide an aftercare service to bereaved families and assist Prison Staff who retired early for medical reasons.

For more information on the Central Benevolent Fund contact our office:

Telephone: 02892614526
Email: centralbenevolentfund@dojni.x.gsi.gov.uk

Post Office Orphans Benevolent Institution (POOBI)

POOBI is a charitable organisation established in 1870 to help the families of Post Office (now Royal Mail and Post Office Ltd) staff.

We exist to help children in hard pressed families and can do so in a number of ways:

Bursaries to help a family support a young person at University. A charitable gift, it does need to be repaid) which is currently worth £1500 a year for up to 3 years for those studying for a First degree at a UK University. For details of the scheme, terms and conditions see our website poobi.org Rising Stars scheme.

A grant for families which have a young person (under the age of 18) with talent and potential in the areas of the performing arts and sport and who needs help in ‘stepping up a level’ in their chosen field for example, though more advanced coaching, specialist equipment or the costs of attending auditions. Worth £600 and payable as a single grant. For terms and conditions please see our website: www.poobi.org or telephone 0207 239 2295 (voicemail) or write to POOBI, Royal Mail, 185 Farringdon Road, London, EC1A 1AA.

Prison Officers Association (POA) Welfare Fund Charity

The Welfare Fund committee meet on a monthly basis to consider applications for assistance from contributing members in distress and those needing to attend the Fire Fighters recuperation centres.

The charity cannot consider applications that are to assist with debt.

For further information visit www.poauk.org.uk or call 0208845693

Railway Benefit Fund

The RBF is the only charity working exclusively for people associated with the rail industry who find themselves in need. We offer services to current and former railway workers and their families who face financial difficulties through illness, injury, bereavement and adversity.

For further information visit: www.railwaybenefitfund.org.uk

Relatives & Residents Association

The Relatives & Residents Association (R&RA) exists to improve the quality of life of older people in residential care. Our national Helpline (020 7359 8136) supports residents, their families and friends by providing friendly, up-to-date, accurate information on what to look for in a care home and what to expect. This includes standards and quality of care, making complaints as well as the complicated rules around paying for care. For more about our work please go to www.relres.org, email us at info@relres.org or call 020 7359 8148. Ask about our Keys to Care pack and App that provide information on all aspects of caring for older people, from dementia and nutrition, to end of life care."

The Rowland Hill Fund

The Rowland Hill Fund is ready to help financially Royal Mail and Post Office people past and present and their dependants. Help with rent, mortgage and utility bill arrears, disability aids, home modifications, hospital travelling expenses, respite breaks, funeral expenses, white goods, furniture, heating/boiler repairs and much more. Call 0800 6888 777, option 1 then option 4. Complete confidentiality.

The CSiS Charity Fund has supported RHF for many years and funded a P. Pod, which is a specially moulded chair, for 7 year old Joshua who has Cerebral Palsy. They have also funded Martin’s lightweight wheelchair after he had four major back operations and a bathroom conversion for Ivor who has Meniere’s disease affecting his inner ear. The Fund are incredibly grateful to the CSiS Charity Fund, their sponsorship makes an incredible difference in supporting people and giving them independence.

Visit our website www.rowlandhillfund.org and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Social Workers Benevolent Fund (SWBT)

SWBT is the UK's only charity dedicated to helping social workers when times are difficult. SWBT was established as an independent charity in 1971 on the initiative of the British Association of Social Workers. It remains independent with its own trustees.

The Trust offers financial help to social workers - including retired social workers - and their dependents in times of hardship, for example when experiencing sickness, bereavement, family difficulties or sudden catastrophe.

It is a small charity with limited funds, and it aims to provide one off grants that will make a tangible difference to the applicants. The trustees consider grants at their bi-monthly meetings, and applicants need to complete an application form if they wish to be considered for a grant. For further details please see www.swbt.org or write to Honorary Applications Secretary, SWBT, c/o BASW, Wellesley House, 37 Waterloo Street, Birmingham, B2 5PP. Email contact can be made on: info2014@swbt.org

The following membership organisations offer a range of support services:

Civil Service Pensioners Alliance

The CSPA is a campaigning and lobbying group for pensioners from Civil Service and related pension schemes. They are an independent, non-party political organisation with an elected Executive Council, an annual policy-making conference and about 100 local Groups throughout the UK. They are the only organisation recognised by Government Departments, Agencies, etc as speaking for all Civil Service pensioners. The CSPA has over 55,000 members.

Website: www.cspa.co.uk
Email: enquiries@cspa.co.uk
Tel: 02086888418

The Civil Service Retirement Fellowship

The CSRF is a charity dedicated to ensuring all retired Civil Servants, partners and dependants are provided with social activities, volunteering opportunities, befriending schemes (National Visitors Network and Phone Buddy), friendship, advice and lots more.

The National Visitors Network was launched in 2013 thanks to financial support received from the CSIS Charity Fund and provided 1,500 home visits in 2014 to those in need of friendship and company.

For more information call 020 8691 7411, email: enquiries@csrf.org.uk or visit our website at www.csrf.org.uk

HASSRA

The HASSRA Development Scheme has been in operation since 1986, providing financial support to individual members who want to develop their skills in a sport, pastime or recreational activity where it involves an expense they would find difficult to meet. Funding for applications from members who consider themselves to be disadvantaged or to have a disability is provided by the CSiS Charity Fund.

Go to www.hassra.org.uk/development/index.asp . Contact number for enquiries: 020 7829 3358

NHS Retirement Fellowship

The Fellowship is a registered charity that exists to promote the welfare and interests of retired NHS staff. It was established in 1978 and has gone from strength to strength, enjoying the support of NHS Chief Executives at local and national level. Their local branches are a key part of the Fellowship and members enjoy a range of sporting, leisure and social activities. The Fellowship also has a Benevolent Fund to support members and their partners in financial need.

Contact details for enquiries:
Email: info@nhsrf.org.uk
Website: www.nhsrf.org.uk
Tel: 01305 361317

If the above are not suitable for you financial, general advice and signposting are provided by:

Citizens Advice Bureau

CABs offer free, independent, confidential and impartial advice for everyone online, by phone or in person from local Citizens Advice. They help people resolve their problems with benefits, work, debt and money, consumer, discrimination and many other issues. Local Citizens Advice offer advice from over 3,500 locations including high streets, community centres, doctors' surgeries, courts and prisons. Search for your local Citizens Advice to see the full range of services it provides. www.citizensadvice.org.uk

Step Change

The UK's leading debt advice charity has been helping people break free from problem debt for 20 years. Offers free advice on problem debt and tailored advice and practical solutions to help manage debt. Tel 0800 138 1111. www.stepchange.org

Turn2us

Turn2us helps people in financial need gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and other financial help – online, by phone and face to face through partner organisations. Their web site includes a benefits calculator, a grants search database, information and interactive tools providing a wide range of subjects on welfare benefits, charitable grants and managing money. It now embraces the work of Elizabeth Finn Care under the Turn2us brand. www.turn2us.org.uk

Hospice UK

Hospice UK is the national charity for hospice care. We champion and support the work of more than 200 member organisations, which provide hospice care across the UK, so that they can deliver the highest quality of care to people with terminal or life limiting conditions, and support their families.

For more information about Hospice UK, please visit our website www.hospiceuk.org or telephone: 020 7520 8200.

Tax Volunteers for Older People

Tax Volunteers is a registered UK national charity that provides free and expert tax help and advice for older people, 60+, who have an income of less than £20,000 a year. Our service operates under the name of Tax Help for Older People.

Find us at www.taxvol.org.uk